Huron Expositor, 2006-10-11, Page 32i6
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The Huron Expositor • October 11, 2006 Page 32
Susan Hundertmark photos
Seaforth Public School Grade 3 students
got a chance to try out the tools of the
paramedic last Friday as above, Lauren
Williamson fits Cody Wall with a neck
brace and at left, Kasey Harrison has his
heart rate checked by Greg Jefferson as
Zjibien Blanchard helps out.
Students encouraged to
pursue "pathways-to:success'
Stew Slater
An eye-catching new logo,
"makeovers in our guidance offices,"
and a cartoon -based poster cam-
paign for Grades 7 and 8 students
are all part of what amounts to a
marketing campaign, developed by a
company from Paris', Ont., and
aimed at informing students from
the Huron -Perth Catholic District
School Board about all their possible
post -secondary options -- not just
college or university.
"Universities and colleges provide
(school boards) with lots of attrac-
tive, glossy information trying to
convince our students to attend,"
commented education superinten-
dent Dan Parr, during a regular
board meeting Monday, Sept. 25.
"The world of work and appren-
ticeship isn't packaged quite as well.
And that will be our challenge."
Parr provided trustees with a copy
of the board's newest version of its
booklet "Pathways to Success:
Choose your Mission," which is
funded through the provincial gov-
ernment's Student Success initia-
tive.
The initiative applies to all sec-
ondary students, but particularly
those who are in danger of dropping
out because they can't see how their
current educational experiences will
lead them to a meaningful adult life.
Parr cited a recent study showing
at least 50 per cent of Ontario high
school students will proceed directly
to apprenticeships or "the world of
work."
And he said the campaign now
completed by the Paris -based mar-
keting firm, in conjunction with the
Huron -Perth board "will hopefully
make it easier" for them to make
that decision in a well-informed
fashion.
Information about universities
and colleges will be easy 'to obtain,
since those institutions have banded
together to lobby for enough funding
to produce attractive marketing
campaigns and get them into the
province's high schools.
"But in the world of work and
apprenticeships, they don't speak in
any one unified voice," Parr said, so
there's no readily -available, profes-
sionally -produced information
encouraging students to try out that
route.
He added an important task for
the board is to make that option
more attractive.
Grade 7 and 8 students will also
be targetted by the campaign,
through cartoon -based posters also
developed by the Paris marketing
firm. And a new website --
www.yourmission.sa -- has been
linked to the board's website.
The company "has done the mar-
ket research," Parr explained,
adding it previously worked with
other school boards on their Student
Success initiatives.